Magic Johnson Signs, Greets Eaters

Content Originally Posted by Sports Collectors Daily on March 13th, 2009.

It would be easy for Magic Johnson to sit back, enjoy the five NBA titles and 12 All-Star appearances.

Do a few private signings. The occasional card show. Maybe some TV work.

Instead, the Hall of Fame hoopster might be busier than he was as a player. Magic Johnson Enterprises continues to grow and so do his efforts to bring businesses to racially diverse and African-American communities.

He has a presence in some 100 cities across 22 states with the latest enterprise in Jersey City, New Jersey. Johnson's Sodexo food business opened a restaurant this week and the owner was there to help kick start the place.

"We wanted to create an environment that is exciting and fun. We seem to be hitting on all our strides, because people have come up to me to today to say 'hey, I get my coffee here every morning,' or the workers across the street say 'I come every afternoon,'" he said.

A crowd of about 200 began lining up early in the morning for his appearance and Magic accommodated with some autographs and small talk.